Convincing Komachi that Riko was not a cosplaying paid escort was not easy.
After she had retreated into her room, Komachi refused to come back outside. The words degenerate, pervert, disgusting, and Hachiman were all thrown at me. Safe to say, my HP took a critical hit so early in the day.
Were I a weaker man, I'd have given up then and there. I'd look for a suitable hole to lay in to die. Life was no longer worth living if my precious little sister disregarded my existence.
Luckily, Komachi had opened her bedroom door, now dressed in her school uniform, and turned to me with a look that said: You have one chance to explain before I disown you. And so I did.
It was tricky to explain just where I found Riko. Lying to Komachi was something I didn't particularly appreciate doing, but it was a necessary evil. There was no way I would explain to my sister about the system and the fact that I could travel between worlds. I knew she worried greatly for me, enough as it was. I didn't need to add more to her plate.
So I explained to Komachi that I had entered a gate for a dungeon raid and found her then. While Komachi wasn't wholly aware of what was beyond the gates, she knew that dozens of different creatures and beasts lived inside them. Finding a small, albeit talking, slime wasn't out of the realm of possibility. As far as she knew, at least. Talking magical beasts wasn't exactly a normal occurrence in this world.
At first, she didn't believe me and was ready to leave for school because she thought that I was messing with her. Before she could leave in frustration, Riko had reverted into her usual slime form. Proving everything that I had said. It was safe to say that Komachi was shocked to see what she thought was a normal human melt down into a small squishy ball the size of a watermelon.
"Allow me to explain further, my Lady. For you see..." Riko said while taking Komachi out of her stupor.
From there, Riko began to explain her side of the story, how her clan was destroyed at the hands of other magical beasts, and how I showed up and saved her in the nick of time. As Riko told her story, I couldn't help but notice how she fluffed up and exaggerated some of the parts where I was included. Somehow, my actions seemed more heroic and grand than they actually were.
Before I could set the story straight, I noticed that Komachi was listening with rapt attention while tears glimmered at the corners of her eyes at the part where Riko lost her family. At the end of the story, Komachi had ended up sitting on the couch while hugging and petting Riko's small form to offer comfort to the slime.
"Ah! Riko-chan! I'm so sorry you had to go through all that!" Komachi said as she held Riko close to her chest. "I know what it feels like... to lose your loved ones. You're more than welcome to stay with us! Ah, but don't call me my Lady. Call me Komachi."
"My Lady, but that-"
"Komachi."
"My Lady, I-"
"Komachi."
"...very well, Ko-Komachi."
I sat back and smiled as I watched Komachi fiddle around with Riko. At some point, Riko had shifted back into her human form, causing Komachi to gush at how cute she was. I leaned on my hand and conceded to my sister's observation. Riko's appearance was a little too perfect. She had failed to capture the small imperfections a regular person would have. This resulted in her having an otherworldly beauty.
"Hey, Riko-chan. Can you make other types of outfits?"
"Ah, I'm only capable of creating my maid uniform so far. I'd have to see some different outfits to emulate them. If I try to make them off the top of my head, they might come out looking wonky and fake."
"I see, I see. Very well! I know what we will be doing this weekend! We're going to Aeon Mall to look at clothes! We're going to try on so many cute outfits! Ah! I also have some old magazines as well!"
"Eh? But I'm perfectly happy just wearing this."
"No can do, Riko-chan!"
Riko looked over to me for help from under Komachi's hug. I sighed and shrugged my shoulders at her, causing her expression to shift into one of betrayal. I chuckled as Komachi began playing with Riko's hair. I released another yawn and turned to the clock on the wall.
"You're going to be late for school, Komachi."
"Oh no!"
x x x
"I'll be back later to pick you up."
"Mhm! Bye-bye Sa-chan!"
Kawasaki Saki smiled as she waved goodbye to her little sister, Kawasaki Keika. One of the staff members from the preschool bowed to her slightly and guided the young girl inside. Keika looked over her shoulder and gave her one last wave before she stepped inside the building.
Saki sighed and began walking away from her sister's preschool. Once she got off the main campus and onto the public sidewalk, Saki came to a stop in front of a black SUV. An older man dressed in a black and white tux bowed to her as he opened the back passenger door.
"Thanks." Saki said as she entered the vehicle and took a seat. A beautifully crafted blue and silver bow sat in front of her in a customized holster. Its drawstring pulsed like a heartbeat while a soft, almost indistinguishable amount of mana emanated from the weapon.
The older man nodded and gently closed the door before entering the driver's seat. Once he was buckled in, the older man shifted the SUV into drive.
You may be asking why Kawasaki Saki was currently driven in an expensive SUV with a personal driver. The reason was simple: Kawasaki Saki was an S-rank hunter who was part of Japan's second most powerful guild, the Yuki-Ryoshi Guild.
Her status naturally brought her great wealth and power within her country. But all that was only thanks to her many accomplishments in her short time as a hunter. Her status had the bonus effect of granting her several other privileges.
One of those special privileges allowed her to miss as many school days as needed to perform her hunter duties. This was why she was heading towards her guild's main headquarters instead of school.
But being a top-level hunter in such an influential guild came with its setbacks and responsibilities. Saki, being the latest S-rank to awaken in Japan, meant her experience and knowledge of the world of hunters were less developed than those of her fellow guild mates. Said inexperience didn't seem to matter to her guild master. No, her guild master was more than happy to bring Saki up to speed as quickly as she could.
Saki grabbed a few reports that were to her left and began reading. Her expression became more sour as she worked through page after page of documents.
"What are those idiots doing?" Saki said with a growl.
The reports Saki was reading detailed the increasing frequency of dungeon breaks, a dangerous phenomenon that not only posed a threat to property but, more importantly, to the lives of civilians. The urgency of the situation was not lost on Saki.
A dungeon break now and then was unavoidable. Despite the advances in technology humanity has made to better find whenever a new gate appears, there are still those that slip through the cracks. This results in out-of-control dungeon breaks that end up resulting in widespread damage and death before the closest hunters can arrive to help.
Saki sighed and flipped over another document showing a map of Japan. There were four different marks located around the map, each mark indicating where a dungeon break had occurred in just the last six months. But what exactly did all these dungeon breaks have in common? The answer was simple. The dungeon breaks were all from gates bought by one specific guild.
The Spinning Star Guild.
"We should be arriving soon, Kawasaki-san." The driver said while turning onto the main highway. Saki nodded and placed the folder down in favor of rubbing her forehead.
Thankfully for Saki, she was now reaching the end of her investigation. All she had to do now was present her findings to her Guild Master and gain authorization to move forward with her plans. With the end in sight, Saki remembered back to when she was first given her special assignment.
"Ah, Saki-chan! I have a new special assignment for you. Here, look these over and get back to me with your findings."
"Huh? Why me?"
"Hmm, why you, indeed? Let's see... why don't we consider this a little test then? If you can solve it yourself, then there may be a new position waiting for you. How's that for motivation?"
Despite working alongside her Guild Master for the past several months, Saki still couldn't figure out how the mind of the enigma known as Yukinoshita Haruno worked. Regardless, Saki held a considerable level of respect for the woman who took Japan's hunter community by storm by raising a guild that rivaled the famous Draw Sword guild in such a short amount of time. "We have arrived."
Saki nodded and proceeded to grab her bow and stack of documents. With them in hand, she then stepped out of the SUV and thanked the old driver. Saki looked up at the impressive sight of the Yuki-Ryoshi Guild headquarters. The building itself stood forty stories tall and was located in the heart of the city of Saitama. On the front of the building was the guild's logo, a white snowflake with a kabuki mask.
"Ah? If it isn't Saki-Saki!"
Saki turned her head to the left and saw her fellow S-rank, Shimizu Akari, jogging towards her with an ever-present sucker in her mouth. Those walking on the sidewalk paused and stared at Shimizu in awe and infatuation. Akari had built quite a reputation for herself, both as a powerful hunter and media star. She had also appointed Saki as her quote-on-quote best buddy in the guild.
"Why did I have to be so impressed by a building I've already seen hundreds of times…" Saki muttered, deflated. Shimizu's energetic personality was not something she wanted to deal with so early in the morning.
Shimizu stopped beside her as the two began to walk towards the entrance of the building. As they entered the building, Shimizu was talking Saki's ear off regarding her latest upcoming drama that would air next week. Saki tried her best to drown out the hyperactive girl but found that it was impossible.
"You know Saki-Saki, you're pretty cute yourself, well, not cuter than me. But if you want, I can get our producer to give you a role on the show!" Shimizu said excitedly with stars in her eyes. Saki groaned as the two of them walked through the first floor of the building. As they walked, they received greetings and respectful bows from the employees who worked at the headquarters.
"I'll pass, thanks."
"Ah! C'mon! You're too pretty only to be a hunter! Don't you want to see yourself on TV?"
"Not particularly."
Shimizu pouted as they entered an elevator. Saki pressed the button to the floor exclusive to the S-rank hunters. Shimizu placed her arms behind her head as she leaned on the elevator wall.
"Don't be like that Saki-Saki! Everyone wants to be on TV. That way, you can impress that special someone in your life." Shimizu stepped closer to Saki and elbowed her gently with a suggestive smile. "Well? Who's the lucky guy or gal who has our sweet little Saki-Saki's eye?"
Saki stiffened at the sudden question. Against her own will, a memory she thought she had long since buried resurfaced back into her mind.
"Thank you! I love you, Kawasaki!" The dead fish-eyed boy yelled over his shoulder as he ran down the hall towards the roof.
"T-there's nobody like that!" Saki said with a stutter. A wave of heat rose over her cheeks as Shimizu grinned mischievously at the sight.
Saki was saved from further embarrassment thanks to the soft ding of the elevator. The two S-ranks stepped out of the now-open doors and into a large, wide-open room.
The room was split in three. The left side was divided into several different desks lined with computers and stacks of paper. On the right was a sizable workout area fitted with the latest equipment and gear meant for hunters. Sitting right next to the work out area was a wide, reinforced combat arena that was covered with dents, scratches, and cracks. The last section of the room was a large recreational area stocked with refreshments and an entertainment area. There were six different couches in separate sections of the area, each spacious enough to accommodate several people
"Ah, Akari! Saki! You're here!" Ishida Mari, S-rank hunter, said after looking up from her handheld gaming system. A lazy smile on her face as she leaned back on one of the couches in the recreational area. "Did you bring snacks?"
Saki sighed at Ishida's lackadaisical attitude. Ignoring the gaming girl in favor of heading to her personal work area, Saki sat down and set down her documents while her bow was placed on the side of her desk.
"Ah, Kawasaki. Morning."
A slow, monotonous voice called out to her. Saki turned her head to see Kitaoka Kei, the mask-wearing S-rank mage-type hunter. He was working studiously on a pile of paperwork, an empty cup of coffee beside him.
"Morning. Hard at work like usual." Saki grabbed a pen from a handmade cup Keika made for her and began to write the last remaining pages of her report.
"Hm, indeed." Kitaoka grabbed his coffee cup and raised it to his face, only to stop when he saw that it had been emptied. He stood up and turned to her. "Coffee?"
"Ah, please."
Kitaoka nodded and walked over to the refreshments bar to pour some more coffee into his cup. He then opened one of the cabinets and pulled out a clean mug for her. With two steaming cups of coffee in hand, Kitaoka returned and handed one to Saki.
"Thank you, Kitaoka."
"Don't mention it."
Raising the cup to her lips, Saki took a long sip and sighed. She looked over the room and saw that one of their fellow S-ranks was missing.
"Where's Fujishima?" Saki asked as she leaned back on her expensive rolling chair. Fujishima Tatsumi was their S-Rank Vice Commander and probably the next most important Hunter in the entire guild besides their Guild Master, not just for his power, but for his managerial prowess. It was strange not seeing him here, working over his desk, especially when she knew that he didn't have a raid assigned for him today. Kitaoka readjusted his mask and looked over to her.
"He's with Yukinoshita-san. They're currently in Fukuoka on some last-minute business."
"Last minute?" Saki said with a raised brow. "That's unusual."
Kitaoka nodded and turned back to his personal work. "It is. I wasn't able to ask why before she hung up the call. Whatever it is, it must be serious. I've never heard Yukinoshita-san so serious before."
Now that grabbed Saki's attention. She turned to her stack of papers and drummed her fingers on the table. A growing sense of unease and curiosity rose in her chest.
"Fukuoka, huh…"
x x x
…Realm of Chaos…
Ser Braeden of House Tallgrass and knight to the Utrolux Kingdom looked around the destroyed ruins of Highwolf castle, weariness setting deep in his bones.
Already thirty and five, the sight of the castle brought bitter feelings of failure and loss for what his people couldn't protect. His long brown hair protects him from the chilly winds of the mountaintop, as his deep brown eyes look sadly at another fallen monument to their endless struggle against the monsters plaguing their world. He closed his eyes and shook his head, hand at the sheathed sword on his hip. His leather gray armor rustled as he investigated the castle, scanning the newest additions to the wreckage.
He, alongside a small battalion of fighters and knights, walked around the destroyed main hall of the castle. Using his keen, experienced eyes for battle, Braeden took note that the piles of rubble and the gouges on the walls were fresh. At most, a few days or so.
Kneeling, Braeden traced a large dried-out stain of blood beneath a large chunk of stone. His gray armored fingers rubbed at the black blood with suspicion.
"Ser Braeden." A young man with short black hair said, stopping a few feet behind Braeden. His name was Darran, a recently named knight. In his hands was a shard of broken armor-like material. "We've found small pieces of broken armor. I believe it belonged to Gloomloo."
"Broken, you say?" Braeden stood up and grabbed the offered slab of exoskeleton that made up Gloomloo's outer armor. "What could have pushed the great spider's armor to pieces? Another creature?"
Darran looked down at the broken piece with a doubtful expression. "I believe it might have been a group of powerful warriors, Ser." Darran then looked to his left, where a boy in his late teens stood nervously. "Squire! Bring it here!"
Korban, the aforementioned squire, nodded quickly and jogged towards the two knights. Korban wore pieces of chain mail armor and leather. His dark blonde hair shifted back and forth in its ponytail as he made his way to his superiors. In his hands were large broken pieces of what appeared to be a black shield. Korban stopped a few feet away from the knights and presented the broken shield.
Braedon hummed and picked one of the pieces. His eyes scanned the shield's material, noting the dents and scratches it was covered in. He knew immediately that the shield had gone through many battles and had performed its duty well. Braeden placed the shield piece back into the squire's arms and waved him away. Korban bowed his head and backed away.
"That shield is crafted from the shell of the Giga-Gator, a fearsome creature that ruled the swamps with its immense size and deadly strength. It's only a corpse now," Braedon said with confidence, his voice tinged with a hint of fear and regret for the days when the Giga-Gator was a force to be reckoned with.
He could still remember his first encounter with the beast during his early years as a knight. The number of comrades he lost to the beast was too many to count. It was also the reason for the scar on his face.
Darrans eyes grew wide at the implications. "You don't mean to say that whoever vanquished Gloomloo also defeated the king of the swamp?!"
"Aye, it appears so," Braedon said and walked off to the southern wall with Darran close behind him. They stepped over the broken wall and stopped beside the sitting remains of the castle's old king. Braedon sighed and looked out at the artificial lake. "They might have also slayed the troll of the woods in West Greenland. From what I can see, it seems that this was all done by a single man. But that's simply speculation at this point."
"Impossible. You expect me to believe that a single warrior was capable of taking down these horrid creatures," Darran shook his head in disbelief, his eyes wide with shock. He looked back over to the ruined hall, the large hole on the roof allowing rays of sun to beat down into the castle. "It would have taken at least a squad of fully trained knights and a team of mages to take down those beasts. Not a single man!"
"You may be right. Perhaps this was done by a group of warriors and mages. Sadly, I lack the skills to see if there are any mana residuals in the area." Braedon sighed and rubbed his head in frustration. "We should have brought a mage with us. We could have used their expertise."
"Ser Braedon." A young knight, Carsen, said as he stepped over the broken wall. Carsen had dirty brown hair while an eye patch covered his left eye. "We've finished searching the entire castle. Whoever it was that defeated Gloomloo has also taken everything of value within the castle."
"Does that include the forbidden armor?" Braedon's voice was grave, his eyes searching for any sign of the armor's whereabouts. The forbidden armor, a relic of immense power and dark history, was a key element in the ongoing struggle for dominance in the Utrolux Kingdom.
"…yes."
"I see," Braedon said gravely. His eyes narrowed out at the far-off horizon. "Gather the men. We have a new mission. Finding whoever or whatever slayed the beast Gloomloo and retrieving the stolen riches and the forbidden armor is now our top priority. Those fools don't even realize what they have in their possession."
Carsen and Darran stood straight and saluted to their team leader. They then marched off to do as they were told. Braedon sighed tiredly and turned his gaze towards the long-dead king. Giving the dead king a slight bow, Braedon walked back into the hall, his heart heavy with the weight of the fallen, but his resolve unwavering.
"Bury all the dead. We will not leave before they all have a proper burial."
"Yes, Ser Braedon!"
x x x
Komachi found herself in a peculiar situation, waiting in a vacant classroom that the Student Council often used.
For what? Well, she was about to find out.
A few weeks back, the student council had announced that there would be a battle of the brains competition. The said competition would involve competing with other high schools within their region. It wasn't until today that she was selected as one of the possible participants.
Komachi couldn't shake off her unenthusiastic feelings about the prospect.
As flattering as it was to get acknowledged by the student council as someone bright enough to represent Sobu at such an event, she had to politely decline. The thought of being in front of a large crowd and showing off her intelligence didn't bother her. What worried her was the pressure to perform at high levels consistently. If she didn't, she'd end up looking like a dummy. And that was a big no-no! The fear of failure was overwhelming.
Unfortunately, the student council's reaction to her rejection was not what she expected. She felt a mix of confusion and unease as they seemed to be taking it a bit weirdly.
Takeshirou, the student council secretary, looked a bit nervous at her refusal and politely asked if she could wait in this room while he went to fetch someone. Who was this person? She didn't know, but Komachi decided to be courteous and wait a bit.
Komachi hoped she wouldn't have to wait too long, though. She was honestly looking forward to getting home.
I gotta make Riko-chan look cuter!
Having a slime girl, Riko, as her friend was a unique experience for Komachi. Riko could morph into almost anything, and Komachi had a collection of cute fashion wear that she wanted to see Riko model. The best thing was that she didn't have to buy anything! Riko deserved to look fabulous, adorable, and absolutely cute, and Komachi was determined to make it happen!
I can't wait!
"Ehem." Takeshirou's cough interrupted her thoughts as he walked inside the room, looking nervous. He bowed slightly in apology. "I'm sorry for making you wait, but thank you for staying."
"Ehehe." Komachi smiled indulgently at him, hoping to relieve some of his skittishness. "I don't mind. I'm still not sure why I gotta be here, though?" She gave him what she hoped was a questioning look that didn't come off as too rude.
Takeshirou gulped, still nervous. "Well, honestly, I—"
"Takeru-kun, I'm coming in." A girl's voice cut in from outside the student council door.
"A-ah! Yes!" He immediately stood away from the door as it opened, and someone else walked in.
Ohhh.
Komachi couldn't help but stare a bit.
In front of her stood Isshiki Iroha.
The Student Council President.
A flaxen-haired beauty with a really pretty face and bubbly personality. The students themselves re-elected Isshiki without Isshiki herself needing to volunteer for the role.
Another name Isshiki was known for was the Iron Fox of Sobu.
Why would such an undeniably cute and bubbly-looking person be called such an ominous title?
It's because she was rumored to be a ruthless president who ruled the student council with an iron fist! A dictator who made every decision and handled every event without input from the rest of the student council and told them what to do while giving them her patented Iron Smile!
And yes, somehow, someone so adorable was capable of having such a scary smile!
Of course, everything she knew about Isshiki was just rumors. Komachi never took such baseless rumors seriously because when her senpai gave her speech during the welcoming ceremony. Komachi couldn't believe that someone so cute could be someone so ruthless. In the end, rumors were just that. Rumors.
"Excuse me for making you wait." Isshiki smiled as she took a seat directly across from her.
"Hmm." Isshiki-senpai gave her a thoughtful look as if she were searching for something. "I really don't see the resemblance…" She whispered under her breath, but Komachi heard her.
"Resemblance…?" Komachi asked in confusion, tilting her head.
"Ah!" Isshiki-senpai waved her hands dismissively. "It's nothing, nothing at all!" She smiled, but there was just a bit of strain on it.
"O-okay?" Komachi wanted to scratch her head in confusion but thought it would make her look dumb, so she just settled for playing with the hem of her skirt underneath the table instead, away from Isshiki's eyes.
"So," Isshiki directs a beautiful smile at Komachi. "Hikigaya Komachi…chan? Can I call you that?" She asked her with a charming wiggle of her brow.
"Yes!" Komachi nodded quickly, giddy that Isshiki would use her first name. "I don't mind at all!"
"Yay!" Iroha clapped her hands happily. Then she leaned forward, hands still together, and winked at her. "But in return, I hope you can call me Iroha, ok?"
"Yes, Iroha-senpai." Komachi accepted without hesitation. She would not reject such a generous offer from such a cute girl.
Iroha leaned back, looking amused and somewhat…nostalgic? "Senpai huh…" She whispered, still smiling.
"Anyway." Iroha placed her hands on the table, her fingers drumming lightly against the wooden table top. "Komachi-chan, I've made you wait long enough, so I'll get straight to the point." She stops drumming her fingers and slaps her hands against the desk, a subtle display of her authority.
"I want you to join this competition!"
"E-eh?"
Komachi was taken aback. Iroha's words carried such weight that was hard to ignore, amplified by the magnetic charm of her face, set in a persuasive smile that was firm but not unkind, and so terrifyingly adorable.
This was all completed by how her honey-colored eyes did not look away while Komachi floundered for a response.
Woah, no wonder she got reelected! That was the first thought that ran through Komachi's mind, admiring the flaxen-haired beauty's expression. Iroha-senpai has found a way to weaponize her cuteness, and its effectiveness struck true in the hearts of the students in Sobu!
Komachi was so very tempted to say yes just because of the awe she felt for Iroha at that very moment.
But…
"I'm sorry, Iroha-senpai. But I really feel like I can't!" Komachi decided that honesty was the best policy in this situation and that it was in her best interest to be as direct as possible with her senpai. "Between finals coming up and several unfinished projects I have, I don't really know if I can be focused on something like this." Komachi pressed her hands together and bowed her head quickly. "I'm really sorry."
Iroha nodded her head, her smile becoming more understanding. "I thought that would be the reason." Iroha-senpai hummed to herself, her lips quirked. "Let me ask you something then: what month is it?"
"Oh, it's November," Komachi answered, a bit confused by the question.
"And finals don't come around until February, right?" Iroha raised her brow. Komachi felt her eyes narrow a bit, annoyed by the implication.
"Yes, but that doesn't mean I shouldn't be prepared already!" Komachi couldn't afford to be anything less than ready, not when her brother worked so hard, so she could get an education at a school like Sobu.
Her brother fights monsters and risks his life daily to put her through school. She had to take every assignment seriously in order to get top marks for a chance at a scholarship. That way, her brother won't have to do anything dangerous anymore.
"That mentality is exactly why you're perfect for this competition." Iroha smiled at her patiently. Before Komachi could say anything, Iroha held her hand out to stop her. "Takeru-kun, can you please hand me her file?"
"Yes, President." Takeshirou, who was silently observing this whole time, obediently retrieved a folder and presented it to Iroha. She grabbed it and smiled at him in thanks. Komachi noticed a blush form briefly on his face.
Hmm, so it's like that. Komachi thought, intrigued.
"The teachers have nothing but praise for you, you know?" Iroha opens the folder and thumbs through the papers, searching for a particular page. "Takagi-sensei says you're quite dedicated to ensuring all your assignments are completed to the highest standard, and you also finish your projects weeks before their deadlines. That's not easy."
Iroha looked at her with a knowing expression. "She also says you don't go outta your way to make friends because of that."
"Urk." Komachi choked, feeling a flush warm her face at being called out.
"Don't be embarrassed." Iroha shook her head in amusement, "You're focused, Komachi-chan. You clearly have something that you're aiming for. Otherwise, there would be no other reason why you work so hard, and you don't let anything distract you from getting it." Iroha-senpai nodded firmly and closed the folder with a snap." And that's why I think you deserve to be in this competition."
"Deserve?" Komachi couldn't help but repeat the word.
"Yes. Deserve." Iroha grinned at her, winking conspiratorially. "This competition isn't simply something we students came up with, you know." Iroha gives Takeshirou a pointed look. He gulps nervously and looks away. "As a matter of fact, the faculty proposed this to me and I went along with it. After I pitched it to them, the other schools quickly agreed with me."
"Really?" Komachi tilts her head in confusion. "Why would they do that...?" She asked, wondering why the faculty would want something like this competition.
"See, I'll tell you a little secret." Iroha leaned forward to whisper her following words, not minding that Takeshiro was within earshot. He looked away as his face was covered in a nervous sweat. "The scholarship grant committee will be watching this competition."
…what?
"Scholarship grant committee...?" Komachi gaped. Is Iroha implying that…?
"Yes!" Iroha answered her silent question, smirking at her dumbfounded face. "This event is a big setup for the committee to scout bright students that they think deserve a chance to shine brighter!" She nodded to herself dramatically while leaning back on her chair. "They want to see how smart these students are even when put in high-pressure situations because it determines their character and how they'll handle a scholarship, which requires them to maintain spectacular grades for a long time!"
She crossed her arms, giving Komachi a knowing smirk.
"I think that you would be quite interested in gaining their attention, yes?"
"…yes," Komachi said without hesitation, quietly at first. Then she felt a smile stretch her cheeks, determination pumping through her veins. "Yes, I definitely would!"
This was her big chance! Getting this kind of secret info might not feel right, but Komachi didn't care! She could try all year round to garner attention from these people by just having good grades, but this was an opportunity to make them look at her and give her a shot when they saw how intelligent she was!
"Good!" Iroha exclaimed, slamming the desk mightily. She then stood with a satisfied smile while holding out her hand. "Then I expect nothing less than excellence from you. Understood?"
Komachi quickly stood as well, grabbing her hand without hesitation. "I promise I won't let you down."
"Oh no." Iroha enveloped Komachi's hand, grasping it firmly. "I already know you won't; that's why I chose you." She smiled with confidence. "You have something the rest of these students don't, and that's why I know…"
She stared deeply into Komachi's eyes, her smile becoming iron-clad.
"You're gonna win."
Komachi gulped, staring at Iroha's smile with a bit of dread. Her choice of words made Komachi believe that Iroha wanted her specifically because Komachi would make Sobu look good. And by extension, it would make Iroha look great because Iroha hand-picked her for this.
It was a smart move and quite…sly.
That's ok, though. Komachi matched her smile with one of her own, tightening her grip. They gave each other one firm shake, sealing the deal. Iroha never looked away, and neither did Komachi.
Komachi decided then and there that she liked Iroha a lot.
After all, she was used to her type, having lived with one all her life.
And honestly?
Hikigaya Komachi can be sly too.
x x x
The days leading up to the weekend were interesting, to say the least. Let's start by recounting Riko's journey to mastering the ways of walking and moving in a bipedal body. Gone were the days when she only had to focus on walking back and forth in her slime body, although she still did that every now and then, thanks to the help and encouragement from Komachi and myself. Riko quickly adjusted to her new body, although she was still quite clumsy.
My little sister herself had also grown very fond of Riko. Whenever she came home from school, Komachi would have Riko learn to emulate several dozen outfits and combinations she had seen in her old fashion magazines. Riko, at first, wasn't too thrilled at learning more outfits. She was seemingly content in wearing her maid uniform all the time. Eventually, Komachi broke her down and imparted a deep female love for cute clothes.
But when the two of them weren't talking about fashion and cute things, Komachi was hard at work studying. That in itself wasn't unusual; what was weird to see was the odd quick questions Riko would throw to Komachi during her studies, almost as if she was in a competition of sorts. Riko was a little confused as to why she was doing such a thing but happily went along with it for Komachi's sake. I wondered if this was a new form of studying or cramming. I have been out of the studying game for a while.
During that time, I also kept myself busy by doing my daily strength training quests. Considering I was taking a small break from leveling up, I decided to take this time to craft some new armor using some of the ores and magic beast material I've stocked up on.
[Cursed Helm | Rank: B | +7 Strength, +5 Stamina | A helmet crafted from the armored exoskeleton of the beast, Gloomloo. | Physical Damage Reduction +4%]
[Hunters Trousers | Rank: B | +9 Agility, +5 Stamina | Trousers crafted from the pelts of Elemental Wolves. Increases overall movement speed.]
I had also decided that I had earned a small reward for all my hard work. So, using some of the extra money from the large quantity of essence stones from my last dungeon raid, I splurged and bought myself a few light novels at a nearby bookstore. But when I had one of my new books in hand, the system once again asked me if I wanted to absorb the knowledge in it. This had cemented that I could now instantly learn the knowledge and information of any book I touched. It was the greatest cheat code imaginable.
But considering I enjoyed reading my light novels at my own pace, I quickly rejected the option to learn what the book had to offer instantly. But when I did, I received another notification asking if I was sure. The system was quite persistent.
I took another sip of my freshly brewed coffee, savoring its taste. I flipped another page of my light novel and found myself enthralled by its plot. Unfortunately, my reading time was interrupted by my phone ringing away. I sighed, placed a bookmark in my book, and set it down on the coffee table. Riko looked over to me from where she was washing dishes but didn't comment.
"Hello?" I said, holding my phone beside my ear.
["Hikigaya! You know, I was beginning to think you were never going to call. It's rude to have a woman waiting, you know?"]
Osaki. I leaned back on the couch and rested my head as I peered up at the ceiling. "Sorry. I lost your card. Hold on, how'd you get my number?"
["Heh-heh, I have my ways."] Osaki chuckled on the other line. ["Anyways, I'll get straight to the point. I need your help."]
"Help? What for?"
["You see, in order for my guild to be officially recognized by the Hunters Association. I have to lead my guild through a C-rank gate with little issues. It's scheduled for this Sunday, so I was hoping you'd come along."]
So that's what it is.
"Hm, sorry, but I'm a little busy that day. Yup, my schedule is just swamped." I picked up my coffee mug and saw it was almost empty. Before I could say or do anything, Riko refilled it with a smile. She was taking this maid role very seriously. I took a quick glance around the spotless apartment that Riko had cleaned, even the ceiling was somehow sparkling. It was honestly impressive.
"Thanks." I said appreciatively. Riko smiled sweetly at me and walked back to the kitchen.
["I normally wouldn't have reached out to you if the situation wasn't serious, Hikigaya."] Osaki said. ["Ever since I told my guild I was the one who practically soloed the boss, they sorta blabbed about it and word got around that I'm a lot stronger than I actually am for a C-rank. Now everyone expects me to be capable of handling everything with little issue."]
"In other words, the fact you covered for me is now biting you in the butt." I said as I set my mug down on a coaster. So this is my fault. If she hadn't covered for me that day, then she wouldn't have such high expectations set for her.
["I know you have no reason to help, but if something were to go wrong next week. I'm not sure if I could handle it alone if the situation goes south. Can you-"]
"I'll help." I leaned forward on the couch and brushed a hand through my hair. "I have to take responsibility for what I did. It shouldn't be on you to cover for my secrets. So I'll help you get your guild master license."
["Really?!"] Osaki said ecstatically. I then heard her cough quietly before calming her voice. ["Excellent. I'll email you the details of where and when we're meeting. With you there, I'm sure we'll all come out safe."]
"Shut up!" Nishimoto growled. "If only you had acted sooner, then Miyashiro would still have his foot! Why didn't you save him? You're strong! Don't you feel any guilt?!"
"…yeah." I muttered weakly. Osaki seemed to have picked up on my tone but decided not to comment on it.
["I'll see you then, Hikigaya. I'm looking forward to it."] Osaki said softly.
We exchanged goodbyes before I hung up the phone. I placed it on the coffee table and then rubbed my hair. I turned to my light novel and found a lack of enthusiasm to keep reading.
"?!"
"Master?"
I shot up to my feet in the blink of an eye. All of my senses and instincts were going haywire. Every muscle in my body felt stiff and primed for action. Riko stood back and watched me with worry. Her hands reached towards me to calm me, but I held a hand out to stop her. But just as fast as that sudden feeling came, it vanished. I felt the accumulated sweat on my brow slid down my cheek as I turned to the direction where I believed that wave of sheer power came from.
"What the hell was that?"
x x x
…???…
[Notification: Your job has changed!]
[Necromancer >>> Shadow Monarch]
Shadow Monarch? I got an instant upgrade? I must have gotten a lot of bonus points.
I looked at the system screen and saw the list of rewards for completing the job change quest. It was a mix of free stat points, class skills, and a title. I looked around at the large numbers of defeated knights and mages lying around in the large, dark castle hall. Their armor and robes were torn, punctured, and dented from my attacks.
Waves of shadow began to emerge from their lifeless husks as the sounds of groaning echoed from within them. A new system notification popped up in front of me, asking for a command word to extract their shadows. A unique skill, a testament to my new job title, was now mine to command.
"Arise."
Immediately, a large number of shadow soldiers rose from their damaged bodies. They stood at attention as their glowing bodies turned to me for orders. Seeing this, I turned to the downed knight in brilliant red armor.
Knight Commander Igris The Blood Red.
Igris was one of the strongest foes I've ever fought. I had grown worried that I would have lost my life at his hands. His strength and speed were miles above my own. Fortunately enough, I had defeated him using my dagger by stabbing him repeatedly in between the gaps in the armor. I stepped over towards him and paused once he was a few feet away.
"Arise."
My command went ignored. My attempt to revive him had failed, leaving me with two final attempts. If I failed two more times, then that would mean I'd lose a powerful shadow warrior who would serve me in the future. I took a deep breath, my determination unwavering, and uttered my command again. A wave of shadows impacted me again.
Damn, I failed again—one last shot at this.
Could it simply be a difference in levels? Did I need to level up more?
No…it didn't feel like that, it felt like he was resisting me for a specific reason.
My eyes turn to the broken and empty throne. Igris appeared before me when I stepped into the throne room and put himself between me and that throne.
Did that mean…?
I land my gaze back to the fallen knight, understanding what I must do to gain his allegiance.
I spoke my next words with utmost sincerity.
"Waiting for your king… how can you be certain he'll make his return? Knight Commander Igris, you are a warrior. That means your purpose is to cut down your foes. Will you let your blade rust in this crumbling ruin, or will you rise above that fate and serve me? Instead of defending the throne of a fallen king, pledge yourself to the man before you…"
I felt power my new power emanate deep within me, releasing itself as I commanded him one more time:
"Arise."
I watched with a grin as a stream of shadows danced around Igris. Slowly, glowing blue light and waves of shadow rose to form Igris's new form. Once Igris was standing, he marched over to stand in front of the rest of my shadow soldiers. Once Igris was in front of them, they all swiftly kneeled and bowed their heads to me. I smiled in glee as I looked them over.
"You're with me now."
That was the day I, Sung Jin-Woo, became the Shadow Monarch.
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A/N:
Thank you for reading,
[Rise Of Monarch, Volume 1: Growth].
Please stay tuned for the next one,
[Rise of the Monarch, Volume 2: Forward].
Please leave a review or comment. It helps me gauge your interest in the story and because I enjoy reading what you all have to say.
Until next time!